Four Colombian Police Officers Sentenced to Prison for Donovan Balanta Death

A judge ordered four National Police officers to serve time in prison while the investigation into the death of 34-year-old Donovan Balanta Paz continues. The measure was imposed by a control-of-guarantees judge following hearings initiated after Balanta’s death on September 20, 2026, in Soacha, Cundinamarca.

The Charges and Allegations

The Attorney General’s Office has formally charged the officers with aggravated homicide, aggravated torture, and ideological falsity in a public document. According to the prosecution’s reconstruction, the incident began when police intervened in a neighborhood dispute. Balanta allegedly threw an object at officers before fleeing, leading to his apprehension. During this process, he reportedly suffered blows and electric shocks from Taser devices.

Once transported to the Cazucá Police Station, Balanta remained handcuffed and semi-nude. Surveillance footage allegedly shows him left helpless on the floor. While in custody, Balanta complained of breathing difficulties and requested medical aid. Although another detainee warned staff of his condition, prosecutors state it took approximately 20 minutes before he was taken to a hospital. He arrived without a pulse and died hours later.

Medical Findings and Specific Roles

The National Institute of Legal Medicine determined that Balanta’s death resulted from cardiac arrhythmia induced by electric shocks. The charges against individual officers are specific:

• Major Roque Correa Yánez: Accused of allowing the abuse, failing to provide immediate medical care, and altering station logs to fake compliance with rights protocols.
• Patrollers Jonathan Alexander Giraldo Torres and Santiago Vargas Romero: Implicated in physical aggression, including kicks and slaps.
• Subintendent Henar Santiago Tapiero Tique: Also implicated in the physical assaults.

None of the four uniformed personnel accepted responsibility for the crimes during the judicial hearing. The case has sparked broader inquiries into potential racial discrimination and police conduct in the region.